Two arrested in Hoshiarpur sarpanch murder case; rivalry reason

Chandigarh, April 20: Police on Thursday arrested two persons for their alleged involvement in the murder of Hoshiarpur sarpanch Satnam Singh alias Bittu.

Satnam Singh, a resident of Khurdan village of Hoshiarpur was killed, owing to an old rivalry, outside gurdwara in sector 38 on April 9 after eight bullets were fired at him by three persons who later fled in a Hyundai i20 car. Those arrested have been identified as Arshdeep and Tirath. The two were named as accused by Satnam Singh himself before he died in the hospital.

File photo

Satnam’s family had refused to cremate his body till the accused were arrested. The family members had also threatened to hold a protest against police inaction on Thursday along with the body in case the accused were not arrested.

Police said that Satnam Singh was an eyewitness in the murder case of his brother Nishan Singh alias Shana of Khurdan village who was shot dead in July 2013 by rivals in Garhdiwala town. Police sources also said that Satnam was to give testimony before court on April 30. Police thus suspect that the firing took place in order to ensure Satnam does not appear before the court.